The Car and Truck Fleet and Leasing Management Magazine

Ford Delivers TH!NK Neighbor EVs, Announces Donation Program

Ford Motor Co. launched a new vehicle line on Nov. 8, 2001, delivering the first TH!NK neighbor low-speed electric vehicle and commemorating the occasion with a special dealer donation program. Under the program, each TH!NK dealer in California will receive one neighbor each quarter of the inaugural year to donate to a local community charity of the dealer’s choice.Ford announced the program as the first TH!NK neighbor rolled into Galpin Ford in North Hills. Galpin Ford is the first of 15 California dealers who will sell TH!NK vehicles. Ford is introducing TH!NK neighbor zero-emission electric vehicles at Ford dealerships in select U.S. markets. It is designed for commuting on speed-limited roads, resorts and golf courses or as a security or maintenance vehicle inside business parks, corporate campuses and industrial areas. TH!NK neighbor has a top speed of 25 mph and a range of up to 30 miles. The vehicle is battery-powered and can be recharged using any household outlet in six to eight hours. Rollout of the vehicles will continue at Ford dealers in the Sun Belt states during the next several months. A new production line was developed and tooled for manufacturing the TH!NK neighbor at the TruMack Assembly Detroit Chassis Plant (DCP) in just 10 months. Up to 10,000 vehicles per year will be built.